SRC-JXG S.C.R. 14 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.C.R. 14
76R2082 RVH-DBy: Ellis
Jurisprudence
2/18/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, a 1996 survey by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
Judicial System (office) revealed that county-level courts have a
collection rate of 61 percent and district courts have a collection rate of
26 percent. Several Texas counties have improved their collection rates by
using innovative in-house and private sector collection strategies. The
Commission on Judicial Efficiency recommended in 1996 that technology be
improved in all Texas county and municipal courts. A computerized
collections system and other information technologies would update the
current system. This legislation would allow the office to work with the
Judicial Committee on Information Technology to develop recommendations for
using technology and training to notify counties in which an offense has
been committed of the defendant's residency and the fine's repayment
status. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.C.R. 14 submits the following resolutions:

That the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System
(office) work with the Judicial Committee on Information Technology to
develop recommendations for using technology and training to notify
counties of certain information concerning offenses. The office must submit
its recommendations to the legislature no later than March 1, 1999. 

That the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to
the director of the office and the presiding officer of the Judicial
Committee on Information Technology.